Monday letters: Doctors, Volkswagen, The Constitution

Copyright 2015: Houston Chronicle

Published 7:16 pm, Friday, September 25, 2015

Photo: Michael Sohn, STF

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An activist of the environmental protection organization 'Greenpeace' holds a protest poster in front of a factory gate of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, where the supervisory board meet to discuss who to name as CEO after Martin Winterkorn quit the job this week over an emissions-rigging scandal that's rocking the world's top-selling automaker. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) less

An activist of the environmental protection organization 'Greenpeace' holds a protest poster in front of a factory gate of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, ... more

Photo: Michael Sohn, STF

Monday letters: Doctors, Volkswagen, The Constitution

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Vetting doctors

Regarding "'Pill mill,' deadly crash may be linked" (Page A1, Thursday), the news that another Texas doctor is accused of practicing irresponsible medical care should serve as a warning to all Texans that the processes that are supposed to assure that physicians are delivering safe, patient-centered care are failing. It is primarily the Texas Medical Board that is supposed to protect citizens from dangerous medical practitioners, yet the laws they have at its disposal and the biased approach it uses to discovering and disciplining dangerous doctors are insufficient. For example, even though knowledge is the basis of competent care and medical knowledge is ever changing, the Texas Medical Boards checks only 1 percent of licensed physicians each year to verify that they have performed continuing medical education (CME). Although CME requirements for Texas doctors fall far short of proving that a physician knows current best practices, it is at least a step in the right direction. Few would fly aboard commercial airlines if only 1 percent of pilots had their competency verified each year, and unlike doctors, the pilots go down with the plane if they fly it dangerously.

Yet we continue to accept a broken licensing system that keeps its secrets until someone pops out of the licensed group and shows us that we had better be careful when seeking medical care.

Regarding "Some VW owners are feeling duped" (Page A1, Friday), the Volkswagen fraud illustrates a flaw in the 'evidence-based' ideal to which businesses and politicians aspire: people are involved. Whenever the human element is in the equation, things won't always add up, because some will skirt the rules in order to win.

Even the researchers conducting the study that uncovered the lie were unwilling to believe the facts until they'd retested time and again because the VW narrative was so compelling.

Science tries to find the truth in our universe, but even scientists have emotions that obscure their search. Of course, this is why there are peer reviews, checks and balances to keep the folks involved honest.

Bob Gayle, Houston

The Constitution

Regarding "Carson: A Muslim 'absolutely' should not be president" (Page A2, Sept. 21), as a professor and attorney, having taught civil rights at an HBCU (historically black college/university,) pundits continue to mix up two different aspects. The constitutional ban on a religious litmus test for the presidency is a ban on official qualifications. Many people mistake this, like they do in issues of civil rights litigation where the law prevents the government from discriminating; it does not govern personal beliefs.

The Constitution would prevent an ideological ban on a white supremacist from being elected to the presidency, but that does not mean citizens cannot say they would oppose such a person form attaining the presidency.

Muslims cannot be prevented by law from ascending to the presidency, but that does not mean Ben Carson or others who see it as intolerant must give their blessing.